Portable degreaser and distillation apparatus



s. F. WADMAN 3,329,581

PORTABLE DEGREASER AND DISTILLATION APPARATUS July 4, 1967 Filed Sept. 28, 1964 Coolant Fluid m m R W m ..T RJW flA m m R w. s

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g a m 0 m United States Patent O 3,329,581 PORTABLE DEGREASER AND DISTILLATION APPARATUS Sydney F. Wadman, Watertown, Mass, assignor to Mac- Nabb Engineering Co., Inc., Waltharn, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 399,927 3 Claims. (Cl. 202-170) This invention relates to an improved combined portable vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device for heavier than air degreasing vapors.

Conventional vapor degreasers using heavier than air degreasing vapors such as trichlorethylene have usually been in the form of fixed installations of large size requiring special permanent space accommodation with ventilating ductwork and separate distillation equipment for recovering contaminated degreasing fluids for re-use in the degreaser. Such large permanent installations generally result in substantial losses of degreasing fluids through evaporation and escape through the ventilating system during operation and even in periods of standby non-use. They also pose problems of inefliciency for lack of rapid adaptability to changing production line needs. This is caused in part by the inconvenience from necessity of transporting work to be degreased from a particular machine operation to the site of the degreaser and subsequent return of the degreased work to the site of the next operation. To improve versatility, some degreasers incorporate a degree of portability for moving to the site of the work to be degreased. However, such efforts at portability have generally lacked the simplicity and ruggedness of construction, safety, convenience, efliciency and versatility of operation desirable for such a device.

These problems have been overcome by the present invention of a combined portable vapor degreaser and distillation device which also incorporates other desirable features and advantages. Among these other features and advantages of the present invention is a capability for rapid and easy movement to substantially any location in a manufacturing plant and safe use at such selected location for effective and eflicient degreasing or alternatively for distilling and recapturing degreasing fluids contaminated with grease and oil. Another desirable feature and advantage is that of the rapidity with which the device may be alternatively converted for use as an efficient vapor degreaser on the one hand and as a degreasing fluid distillation or storage device on the other. A further feature and advantage is that of a capability for prolonged non-use storage of volatile degreasing fluid without evaporating losses resulting therefrom. And a further feature is that the invention includes a simple and effective arrangement for preventing the buildup of excessive pressure within the device.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a portable combined vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device for heavier than air vapors which is safely operable without the need for special ventilating equipment.

Another object is the provision of a portable combined vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device for heavier than air vapors which is readily and efliciently usable at the site of work to be degreased.

And a further object is the provision of a portable combined vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device for heavier than air vapors which is extremely rapidly convertible for use as a degreaser and alternatively as a degreasing fluid distillation device, and may be simultaneously operated as a vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device.

Other objects include the provision of a portable combined vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation 3 ,329,581 Patented July 4, 1967 device for heavier than air vapors which is very compact, rugged and inexpensive in construction, and simple, efficient and reliable in operation.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention are achieved generally by the provision of a tank having upwardly extending sheet metal side and end walls whose upper and lower extremities define a top and bottom respectively of the tank, a step shaped sheet metal closure at the bottom with a lower step level extending from one of the end walls and changing at a position distal from the one end Wall to an upper step level which extends to the other of the end walls, a support extension from the lower level sheet metal closure toward the other end wall bottom extremity to form with the upper step level sheet metal closure, a storage compartment for flexible electric supply cord and cooling fluid tubing for the degreaser, caster wheels flxed to the bottom for providing mobility to the degreaser, the lower step level closure combining with the side walls and the one end wall to form a degreasingliquid basin, an electrical resistor heating element extending into the degreasing liquid basin, an electric coupling arrangement including a flexible electric conductor coupled to the electric resistor heating element and adapted for coupling to an electric power source, a hollow cooling fluid conductor formation about the periphery of the tank at a position distal from the top for carrying cooling fluid in heat conducting engagement with the walls, a flexible inlet and outlet fluid conductors coupled to the hollow fluid conductor formation for circulating cooling fluid about the walls and adapted for coupling to a cooling fluid source and return respectively, a trough fixed to the walls inside the tank at a position below the hollow cooling fluid conducting formation and above the upper step level bottom closure for receiving degreasing vapor condensate flowing downwardly on the walls inside the tank, a fluid flow control structure coupled to the trough through a wall capacity for draining fluid from the trough, a removable cover closure on the top of the tank, a gasket of resilient material interposed between the cover and upper wall extremity for forming a vapor tight seal yieldably and pressurably therebetween, and a spring latch arrangement for yieldably and pressurably fastening the cover against the top of the tank to effect with the gasket a vapor tight seal which is releasable under a preselected vapor pressure in the tank.

By making the resilient fastening structure in the form of a hinge fixed to one side wall of the tank and an associated portion of the cover, and a spring latch fixed to the other side wall of the tank engageable with the other side of the cover for pressurably and yieldably holding the cover in place against the top, an effective and simple arrangement for rapidly converting the tank from an operating degreaser to a vapor sealed degreasing fluid storage or distillation device is thereby achieved.

By making the hinge in the form of a piano type hinge running substantially the full length of one side wall, evenness of pressure for proper vapor seal along the gasket is thereby assured.

By making the spring latch in the form of a toggle and spring arrangement, suitable leverage is thereby achieved for effecting sufficient spring pressure on the cover to insure proper vapor seal at the gasket together 'with suflicient yield as a safety release in the event of excessive vapor pressure in the tank.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment with the cover hanging at the side in the open position with the device in position for use as a degreaser;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the FIG. 1 embodiment with the cover shown in closed position on the top of the tank which is shown with a partially cut-away front wall for more clearly showing internal construction.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the FIG. 1 embodiment as viewed from the right hand side of the sheet;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2 as viewed from the left hand side of the sheet;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a suitable electrical circuit for the present embodiment.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the preferred embodiment of the portable combined vapor degreaser and degreasing fluid distillation device is designated generally by the numeral The preferred embodiment 18 has a rectangular tank 12 comprised of upwardly extending sheet metal side walls 14 and 16 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) and sheet metal end walls 18 and 20', the upper part of which have a horizontal flange or lip formation 22 forming the top of tank 12. The lower extremities of the walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 have a step-shaped sheet metal bottom closure 24 with a lower step level 26 extending from the end wall 18 to a distal position 28 where a higher step level 30 begins and extends to the other end wall 20. The step shaped bottom closure 24 is preferably integral with or fastened to the side and end walls, as by welding to form a liquid and vapor tight seal therewith.

The lower step level 26 forms with the end wall 18 and portions of the side walls 14 and 16 a basin or sump 32 for carrying degreasing fluid, such as trichloroethylene (not shown). Extending horizontally into the basin 32 are electrical resistance heating elements 34, 36 and 38, each supported at the end wall 18 by a base such as the base 40 for the heating element 34 and suitably sealed at the end wall 18. The heating elements 34, 36 and 3 8 are connected by electric conductor cable 42 to a thermostat 44 having a sensor element 46 in the upper part of the chamber of the tank 12 and a temperature selector knob 48. The thermostat 44 is coupled by an electric cable 50 to an indicator light bulb 52 and electrical switch 54 having an operating arm 56. The switch 54 is connected by electric cable 58 running in protective conduits 60 and 62 to one end of a suitably long extension electric cable 64 having a conventional adapter 66 for plugging into an electric power source 68 such as a conventional 110- volt, 60 cycle alternating current power source.

A protective sheet metal housing 78 is provided at the lower end of the end wall 18 for shielding the electrical components such as the conductor cables 42 and 58.

The lower step level sheet metal closure 26 is provided with support extension structure 72 of suitable material such as angle iron fastened at 28, as by welding, and also at the lower extremity of the end wall 20 so as to-form with the upper step level 30 and suitable wall material such as expanded metal components 74 and 76 a storge compartment for carrying needed accessories to the present embodiment 10' such as the extension chord or cable 64 and flexible cooling fluid conductor tubing as will be hereinafter further described.

Swivel casters 78, 80, 82 and 84 are fastened to the bottom of the degreaser 10 provide suitable and convenient mobility for movement to substantially any desired location in a manufacturing plant for use at the site of work to be performed.

A hollow cooling fluid conducting formation 86 is fixed as by welding about the outside periphery of the walls 14, 16, 18 and 28 with one end carrying an inlet coupling 88 leading through a cooling fluid inlet valve 98 to a flexible cooling fluid conductor tube 92, only a small portion of which is shown in FIG. 1, and the other end of which is adapted to fasten to any suitable coolant source such as a conventional water tap (not shown). The other end of the coolant fluid conducting formation 86 has an outlet coupling 94 preferably in the form of an elbow rising above the formation 86- as shown in FIG. 2 to insure complete displacement of air by coolant fluid in the coolant fluid conductor formation 86. The elbow 94 is coupled to one end of a coolant fluid outlet flexible tubing 98, only a small portion of which is shown in FIG. 1, and the other end of which may be coupled to any suitable drain for purposes as will be hereinafter further described. To avoid possible injurious buildup of fluid pressure in the coolant conductor formation 86, no valve appears in the discharge line 98.

A trough 100' is provided about the walls 14, 16, 18

and 20 inside of the tank 12 at a position below the coolant fluid conductor formation 86 and above the upper step level 30. The trough 100 is fixed firmly against the walls in manner to receive condensed fluids forming on the walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 and flowing downwardly toward the trough 100. At the end wall 20', the trough 100 has a coupling 102 carrying a condensate outlet valve 104 with a condensate outlet flexible tubing 106, only a small portion of which appears in FIGS. 1 and 2. I The combined degreaser and distillation device 10 has at the top thereof a cover 108 which may be of sheet metal. The cover 108 is fastened at one side to a piano type hinge 110 extending substantially the full length of the side wall 16 and fixed to an angle iron 112 carried by the flange 22. The cover 108 also has glued or otherwise fixed thereto a gasket 114 of resilient material such as rubber Which engages the upper surface of the flange 22 when the cover 108 is swung to the closed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The cover 108 also has hook members 116 and 118 which may be engaged by spring elements 120 and 122 respectively of toggle type latches 124 and 126 fixed to the upper extremity of the side wall 114. Thus, when the cover 108 is closed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the spring elements 120 and 122 yieldably and pressurably hold the cover 108 against the flange 22 to compress the resilient gasket 114 so as to form a vapor seal therewith. The spring elements 120 and 122 are chosen of a size such that they will yield at a selected excessive pressure in the tank 12 sufficiently to permit escape of gasses past the gasket 114 and thereby prevent further increase of internal pressure.

A drainage coupling 128 is provided at the lower part of the basin 32 in side wall 16 and leads to a drainage valve 130 carrying a drainage tube 132, only a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, fluid may be drained from the basin 32 through the coupling 128, valve 130 and drainage tube 132 as needed, for example when cleaning the degreaser. Alternatively the condensate tube 106 may be coupled to the drainage tube 132 to permit condensate flow from the trough 100 to continuously flow back to the basin 32 for re-use.

In operation, the present embodiment 10 may be easily moved on its casters 78, 80, 82 and 84 to the site of work to be degreased, as for example adjacent a production machine creating components requiring degreasing. At such desired operating site, coolant fluid inlet and outlet tubes 92 and 98 are coupled to a suitable coolant fluid source such as a water tap and a drain respectively. By means of valve 90, the rate of coolant flow through the coolant fluid conductor formation 86 is regulated to provide sufiicient cooling affect on the adjacent portions of walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 to prevent degreasing vapor from rising above the formation 86 and thus providing a freeboard space between formation 86 and flange 22 at the top of tank 12 as a vapor free area in which work which has been degreased may remain for a brief perior to become completely free of degreasing fluid and vapor. The basin 32 is filled with trichlorethylene and the switch 54 closed with the thermostat 44 control knob 48 set to a selected degreasing vapor temperature which if exceeded would cause the sensor 46 to open the circuit to the resistance heater elements 34, 36 and 38. The condensate valve 104 may be closed, in which event condensate from the falls will overflow the trough 100 and find its way back to the basin 32 for reheating. With the cover 108 in the open position as shown in FIGS. l and 3, the embodiment is ready as a degreaser for receiving work preferably in suitable wire baskets or trays (not shown) through the open top to a position above the fluid level in the tank 12 and always kept well below the level of the trough 100. Degreasing vapor condenses on the work so inserted and flows back to the basin 32 carrying with it the grease on the work which is thereby cleaned. Depending upon the type and speed of operation desired, the cooling fluid valves 90 and 96 are adjusted to prevent the vapor from rising above the coolant fluid conductor formation 86.

Embodiment 10 may be rapidly converted to a distillation device for distilling contaminated degreasing fluid by simply swinging the cover 114 closed onto flange 22 and pressurably and yieldably holding it in place by springs 120 and 122 of the toggle clamps 124 and 126 respectively. In this closed position, as a distillation device, the resistance heating elements 34, 36 and 38 heat the fluid in the basin 32 which is thereby vaporized and subsequently condensed on the walls 14, 16, 18 and adjacent the coolant fluid conductor formation 86 and flows into the trough 100 from which it is drained through condensate valve 104 and condensate tube 106 to a suitable receptacle (not shown) as a clear degreasing fluid ready for re-use as described above.

As a volatile fluid storage device, the cover 108 is closed and forms a vapor seal as described above. The switch 54 is opened to prevent heating fluid in the basin 32 and valves 106 and 130 are closed, thus creating a completely sealed tank 12 which prevents evaporational losses of the stored volatile fluid.

This invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and operation described, as equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable combined vapor degreaser and distillation device comprising a sheet metal tank having a pair of end walls and side walls extending upwardly with the upper and lower extremities of said walls forming the top and bottom respectively of said tank, a step shaped metal closure at said bottom with a lower step level extending from one of said end walls and changing at a position distal from said one end wall to an upper step level extending to the other of said end walls, a support extension from said lower step level sheet metal closure portion toward said other end wall to form with said upper step level sheet metal closure a storage compartment for flexible electric supply cord and cooling fluid flow tubing of said degreaser, said compartment being enclosed by expanded metal components Wheel means at said bottom -for providing mobility to said device, said lower step level combining with said side walls and said one end wall to form a degreasing fluid basin, electrical resistor heating means extending into said degreasing fluid basin, electric coupling means including an elongated flexible electric conductor coupled to said electric resistor heating means and adapted for coupling said electric heater means-t0 an electric power source, a hollow cooling fluid conductor formation integral with said walls about the periphery of said tank at a position distal from said top for carrying cooling fluid in heat conducting engagement with said walls, a flexible inlet and outlet fluid conductor means coupled to said hollow fluid conductor formation for circulating cooling fluid through said fluid conductor formation and adapted for coupling to a cooling fluid source and return respectively, a trough fixed to said walls inside said tank at a position below said hollow cooling fluid conductor means and above said upper step level storage compartment closure for receiving degreasing vapor condensate flowing downwardly on said walls inside said tank, degreasing fluid flow control means coupled to said trough through one of said walls with capacity for draining fluid from said trough, a removeable cover closure on the top of said tank, a gasket of resilient material interposed between said cover and upper wall extremity for forming a vapor seal therebetween, and means fixed to said cover and Walls for resiliently and pressurably fastening said cover against the top of said tank whereby to effect with said gasket and upper wall extremities a vapor seal releasable under a preselected pressure of vapor in said tank.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes hinge means fixed to one side wall of said tank and an associated portion of said cover, and spring latching means fixed to the other side wall of said tank pressurably and yieldably holding said cover in place against the top of said tank.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes a piano type hinge running substantially the full length of one side wall and fixed to said one side wall and associated portion of said top, and a toggle and spring type latching means fixed to the other side wall of said tank with a catch means at the associated portion of said cover positioned for engagement with said spring for pressurably and yieldably holding said cover in place against the top of said tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

F. E. DRUMMOND, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE COMBINED VAPOR DEGREASER AND DISTILLATION DEVICE COMPRISING A SHEET METAL TANK HAVING A PAIR OF END WALLS AND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID WALLS FORMING THE TOP AND BOTTOM RESPECTIVELY OF SAID TANK, A STEP SHAPED METAL CLOSURE AT SAID BOTTOM WITH A LOWER STEP EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID END WALLS AND CHANGING AT A POSITION DISTAL FROM SAID ONE END WALL TO AN UPPER STEP LEVEL EXTENDING TO THE OTHER OF SAID END WALLS, A SUPPORT EXTENSION FROM SAID LOWER STEP SHEET METAL CLOSURE POSITION TOWARD SAID OTHER END TO FORM WITH SAID UPPER STEP LEVEL SHEET METAL CLOSURE A STORAGE COMPARTMENT FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTRICE SUPPLY CORD AND COOLING FLUID FLOW TUBING OF SAID DEGREASER, SAID COMPARTMENT BEING ENCLOSED BY EXPANDED METAL COMPONENTS WHEEL MEANS AT SAID BOTTOM FOR PROVIDING MOBILITY TO SAID DEVICE, SAID LOWER STEP LEVEL COMBINING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS AND SAID ONE END WALL TO FORM A DEGREASING FLUID BASIN, ELECTRICAL RESISTOR HEATING MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID DEGREASING FLUID BASIN, ELECTRIC COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR COUPLED TO SAID ELECTRIC RESISTOR HEATING MEANS AND ADAPTED FOR COUPLING SAID ELECTRIC HEATER MEANS TO AN ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE, A HOLLOW COOLING FLUID CONDUCTOR FORMATION INTEGRAL WITH SAID WALLS ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TANK AT A POSITION DISTAL FROM SAID TOP FOR CARRYING COOLING FLUID IN HEAT CONDUCTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WALLS, A FLEXIBLE INLET AND OUTLET FLUID CONDUCTOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID HOLLOW FLUID CONDUCTOR FORMATION FOR CIRCULATING COOLING FLUID THROUGH SAID FLUID CONDUCTOR FORMATION AND ADAPTED FOR COUPLING TO A COOLING FLUID SOURCE AND RETURN RESPECTIVELY, A TROUGH FIXED TO SAID WALLS INSIDE SAID TANK AT A POSITION BELOW SAID HOLLOW COOLING FLUID CONDUCTOR MEANS AND ABOVE SAID UPPER STEP LEVEL STORAGE COMPARTMENT CLOSURE FOR RECEIVING DEGREASING VAPOR CONDENSATE FLOWING DOWNWARDLY ON SAID WALLS INSIDE SAID TANK, DEGREASING FLUID FLOW CONTROL MEANS COUPLED TO SAID TROUGH THROUGH ONE OF SAID WALLS WITH CAPACITY FOR DRAINING FLUID FROM SAID TROUGH, A REMOVABLE COVER CLOSURE ON THE TOP OF SAID TANK, A GASKET OF REILIENT MATERIAL INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID COVER AND UPPER WALL EXTERMITY FOR FORMING A VAPOR SEAL THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS FIXED TO SAID COVER AND WALLS FOR RESILIENTLY AND PRESSURABLY FASTENING SAID COVER AGAINST THE TOP OF SAID TANK WHEREBY TO EFFECT WITH SAID GASKET AND UPPER WALL EXTREMITIES A VAPOR SEAL RELEASABLE UNDER A PRESELECTED PRESSURE OF VAPOR IN SAID TANK. 